Pneumatic launching ram



Feb, 27s 1945.

H. K. WARD Erm. 2,370,431

PNEUMATIC LAUNCHING RAM Fi'led July 14, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventors Harold '/f. Ward,

Ira, lMslfifllz'ngs Waln 'S'.Br'own &

'By adloway 5m Feb. 27, 1945. H K WARD ErAL 2,370,431

PNEUMATIC LAUNCHING RAM v Fi led July 14, 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 I nventor Hrod Ward, Ira IM Skilz'ngs l2 Walion ,S' Brown B y o I I3 Feb. 27, 1945. H, K, WARD ErAL 2,370,431

PNEUMATIC LAUNCHING RAM Filed July 14, 1943 s sheeAts-sheet s Invent/)rf Harald /r. ward,

By s gym@ ffy. 5.

Pnlontod Feb. 27, Alens 'rNEUMAT-rc LAUNonmG MM imola x. wnnl, Beaverton, Inn w. shillings, Portland, and Walton S. Brown, Oregon City,

Appliontion July 14, 1943, sorlnlNo. 494,724

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in launching rams 'for use in preparatory lo the launching of a shi-p, the usual hull elevating wedges may be expeditiously driven in with a minimum of labor.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a pneumatic ship launching ram of the character described which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, highly eflicient and reliable in use, compact, and which may be manufactured at low cost.- f

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specication, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a View in side elevation of a launching ram constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a view in front elevation of the machine.

Figure 3 is a rear elevational view. Figure 4 is a view in vertical longitudinal .section' through the air hammer.

Figure 5 is a'vlew in vertical section through the control valve mechanism. i o

Figure 6 is a top plan view of a portion of the base.

Figure 'l is a. fragmentary view in cross-section, taken substantially on the line 1-1. of Figure 1.

Figure 8 is a vertical sectional view, taken substantially on the line 8-8 of Flgur l.

Figure 9 is a detail view in perspective of the plate on which the air cylinder is mounted.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that the embodiment of the invention which is illustrated comprises a mobile base which is designated generally by reference character I. 'I'he base I includes pairs of spaced, parallel, transversely extending front and rear bars 2 and 3, respectively, of angle iron, between intermediate portions of which a pair of spaced, parallel, longitudinal bars 4, also of angle iron, extend. The bars 4 are welded to the'bars 2 and 3. e

Pairs of spaced, opposed, metallic plates 5 are welded to the end portions of the bars 2 and project therefrom. Shafts I extend between the pairs of plates 5. Rollers 1 are journaled on the shafts 6 and areadapted to travel on a rail 8 in the form of an H beam for shiftably mounting the front end of the machine thereon. The rail 8 is mounted on the usual way. 1

Angle irons 9 are welded between the inner end portions of the plates 5. Metallic braces I0 are ,welded between the outer end portions of the plates 5. Plates II are welded on the angle irons 9. Welded on the plates I I are angular brackets I2 having journaled thereon vertical rollers I3 which are adapted to travelI on the,rear edge of the rail 8. Depending from the front plates 5. are substantially L`shaped keepers I4 which are engaged beneath the tread of the rail `8 for preventing the front of the machine from being lifted oi said rail. i.

Welded to the end portions of the bars 3 and projecting therefrom are pairs of spaced, opposed, metallic plates I5. Comparatively long support` ing rollers I6 are journaled between thepairs of plates I5. The rollers I6 are adapted to travel on the slip for supporting the rear end of the machine.

Upwardly converging front legs I1 are welded to the angle irons 9. 'Rising from an intermedi--A ate portion of the bars 2 'is a vertical front Aleg I8. The lower end of the leg I8 is welded to a short angle iron I9 whichextends between the bars 2. lA brace 20 extends between the legs I1 and I8 at Aan intermediate point. Pairs of forwardly inclined legs 2| and 22 are .welded to the end portions of the bars 3. A brace 23 extends between the rear legs 22. Y

Mounted on the upper ends of. the legs I 1, I8, 2I and 22 is' an elongated table 24 in the form of an inverted channel iron. The depending side ilanges 25 of the table 24 have formed therein spaced vopenings 26. Mounted beneath the rear end portion of thee table 24 is a reservoir 21 for receiving air :under pressure from a suitable source. Hangers 28 suspend the air reservoir 2 1 beneath the table 24.

. Mounted for longitudinal sliding adjustment onthe table 24 is a. carriage 29. The carriage 29 is in the f orm of a metallic plate and welded to the side edges thereof and depending :therefrom are metallic guides 30 of angular cross-section which slidably embrace the table 24 therebetween. Bolts or pins 3l in the guides 30 are engageable selectively in the openings -26 for securing the carriage 29 in adjusted position on the table 24.

Mounted on the carriage 29 is a plate 32 having fixed thereon a longitudinally extending air cylinder 83. A piston 34 (see Fig. 4) is mounted for reciprocation in the cylinder 33. The piston y34 is fixed on the rear end of a rod 35 which extends slidably through the forward end 36 of the cylinder 33. Mounted on the forward end of the rod 35 is a substantially cup-shaped head 31 which is weighted with lead, as at 38. Projecting forwardly from the head 31 is a wooden contact block 39. A coil spring 40 in the forward end portion of the cylinder 33 retracts the piston 34. A plate 4l closes the rear end of the cylinder 33. The elements 33 to 4I, inclusive, constitute an air hammer which is designated generally by reference numeral 42.

A exible conduit 43 connects the cylinder 33 to the air reservoir A21. In the embodiment shown, a nipple 44 projects from the plate -4I and receives the air conduit 43. The nipple-44 has interposedv therein a gate valve 4-5 for controlling the How of air to the cylinder 33. Also mounted on the plate 4| is an exhaust valve 46 for the cylinder 33. A hand lever 41 constitutes common means for operating the valves 45 and 45. As best seen in Figure 5 of the drawings, the construction and arrangement of the air control mechanism is such that when the air supply valve 45 is opened, the exhaust valve 45 is closed and vice versa.

It is thought that the operation of the machine will be readily apparent from a consideration of 33 against the tension of the coil spring 40 for` causing the head 31 to strike the wedge being driven a forceful blow. The wooden contact block 39 prevents the wedge from being unduly damaged when struck. The hand lever 41 is.then

swung downwardly for closing the supply valve 45 and opening the exhaust valve 45v which permits the coil spring 40 to return'the piston 34. The operation is then repeated. As the wedge is driven in, the carriage 29 is adjusted forwardly on the table 24.

It is believed that the many advantages of a pneumatic launching ram constructed in accordance with the present invention will be readily understood, and although a preferred embodiment of the machine is as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction and in the combination and ari-angement of parts may be resorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. A ship launching ram comprising a mobile supporting structure, said supporting structure comprising an elongated table including depending side anges having spaced openings therein, a carriage mounted for longitudinal sliding adjustment on the table and including depending guides slidably embracing said table therebetween, means in said guides engageable selectively in the openings for securing the carriage in adjusted position on the table, and a fluid-actuated hammer mounted on the carriage.

2. A ship launching ram comprising a base including supporting rollers, legs rising from said base, a table mounted on the base, said table comprising an inverte'd channel iron having spaced openings in its side flanges, a. carriage mounted for longitudinal sliding adjustment on the table, said carriage including depending sides slidably embracing the table therebetween, means mounted on said guides and engageable selectively in the openings for securing the carriage in adjusted position on the table, a fluid-actuated hammer mounted on the carriage, and means for supplying 40 fluid under pressure to said hammer.

HAROLD K. WARD. IRA W. SKILLINGS. WALTON S. BROWN. 

